Flash a flashlight

I will confess that I'm not the biggest disco fan.  Now, I do like me some house music, especially in the right room on the right sound system, and David Mancuso is certainly one of my DJing heroes.  But the stuff that was on the radio in the 70s, and the thousands of reissues over the last few years?  That's a big "No" from me, dawg.

 

Here's what does do it for me in the world of disco: Bubblegum, the South African version of the genre that's a predecessor to all that country's subsequent electronic dance styles: kwaito, gqom and now amapiano.  It's immediately recognizable as South African with direct links to earlier styles like mbaqanga, marabi and kwela, but it has disco's relentless four-on-the-floor rhythm and devil-may-care ethos.

 

Inspired by a terrific new bubblegum compilation called Yebo! Rare Mzansi Beats From Apartheid's Dying Years, the whole second hour this week is ten or so of my favorite bubblegum tracks in a more platter, less chatter dance mix that you might want to crank up and share with your neighbors.  Just sayin' ....

Also this week (Sunday July 9, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): it's an all-African episode this time featuring a trip to Mali, two of today's best desert blues bands in brand new live recordings, and the irresistible dance sounds of Congolese soukous.

Podcast: radio4all.net/program/115856

All the podcasts: radio4all.net/series/Global%20A%20Go-Go

 

 

Artist | Country | Song | Recording | Label | Year

 

Oliver Lake | USA | Separation | Matador Of 1st & 1st | Passin' Thru | 1997

Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros | England UK | Global A Go-Go | Global A Go-Go | Hellcat | 2001

 

Amadou & Mariam | Mali | Do Be Mangan | Le Couple Aveugle Du Mali, Vol. 5 | Maikano | 1993

Leila Gobi | Mali | Akan Nana | 2017 | Clermont Music | 2017

Idrissa Soumaoro | Mali | N'den Tedi | N'den Tedi - Single | Mieruba | 2023

 

Imarhan | Algeria | Tahabort | Ihad Saman EP | City Slang | 2023

Etran De L’Aïr | Niger | Nak Deranine | Live In Seattle EP | Sahel Sounds | 2023

 

Nyboma & Les Kamalé Dynamique Du Zaire | RD Congo | Doublé Doublé | Doublé Doublé | Celluloid | 1982

Sakade Band | RD Congo | Beya Moke | Beya Moke | A.I.T. | 1976

Lutchiana Mobulu | RD Congo | Eki Bis | Eki Bis - Single | Hot Casa | 2023-1992

 

Obed Ngobeni & Kurhula Sisters | South Africa | Ku Hluvukile Eka "Zete" | Yebo! Rare Mzansi Party Beats From Apartheid's Dying Years | BBE | 2023-1983

"Om" Alec Khaoli | South Africa | Make Me Your Lover | Say You Love Me EP | Gallo | 1985

Splash | South Africa | Peacock | Peacock EP | Gallo | 1986

Nomuntu & Chimora | South Africa | Being Bitchy Is My Kind Of Fun | Being Bitchy Is My Kind Of Fun | Roy B. | 1989

Benjamin Ball | South Africa | Flash A Flashlight | Flash A Flashlight - Single | Third World Music | 1983

 

Chicco | South Africa | We Miss You Manelow | We Miss You Manelow | Roy B. | 1987

Tools & Figs | South Africa | Blackout | Yebo! Rare Mzansi Party Beats From Apartheid's Dying Years | BBE | 2023-1991

Umoja | South Africa | Money Money (Bananas) | 707 EP | Gallo | 1988

The Angels | South Africa | Johnny Boy | Yebo! Rare Mzansi Party Beats From Apartheid's Dying Years | BBE | 2023-1985

Peta Teanet | South Africa | Maxaka | Maxaka EP | Mac-Villa Music | 1988